Multiple brush carwasher

Abstract

A multiple brush vehicle washing apparatus wherein one brush has a horizontal axis of rotation and is pivotally mounted to swing in toward the rear surface of a vehicle which is passing under the brush support structure. A composite counterweight system provides an angular force component which urges the brush into the rear of the vehicle at the lowermost brush position. A second horizontal brush and two angled side brushes are provided.

I claim: 
     
       1. Vehicle washing apparatus comprising: an open unitary gantry frame having forward and rearward ends and including left and right upright longitudinally extending side frame structures, and   horizontal members extending transversely between said side frame structures adjacent the upper ends thereof to form a gantry structure to overly and accommodate a vehicle to be washed;     a first brush assembly positioned at the forward end of said frame and including a first pair of straight rigid arms pivoted at their respective upper ends to adjacent, opposite sides of said frame adjacent the upper forward end of said frame and extending forwardly from said frame, and   a first brush positioned transversely between the lower ends of said first pair of arms;     a second brush assembly positioned at the rearward end of said frame and including a second pair of straight rigid arms pivoted at their respective upper ends to opposite sides of said frame adjacent the upper rearward end of said frame and extending rearwardly from said frame, and   a second brush positioned transversely between the lower ends of said second pair of arms;     a pair of elongated left and right sides brushes positioned respectively adjacent to and within said left and right frame structures and extending obliquely from front to rear of said frame; and   means mounting said side brushes on said frame for self-adjusting lateral displacement relative to said frame in response to vehicle contact to accommodate vehicles of varying width.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said elongated left and right side brushes are angled downwardly from said forward end to said rearward end of said frame. 
     
     
       3. Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said first and second brush assemblies each include a horizontal pivot shaft extending transversely between said left and right side frame members at the upper forward and upper rearward ends thereof, respectively; and   the upper ends of said first and second pairs of straight rigid arms are mounted on the respective pivot shafts.   
     
     
       4. Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said appartus further includes: counterweights secured to said pivot shafts and extending in each case from the respective shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of extension of the respective pair of arms from that shaft.   
     
     
       5. Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said apparatus further includes first and second counterweights attached to said first and second brush assemblies on the opposite side of the respective pivot axis from the rigid arms of the respective brush assembly so as to counterbalance the arms and brush of the respective brush assembly; and   the pivot axes of said first and second brush assemblies are spaced longitudinally on said frame by a distance greater than the combined distances from said pivot axes to the farthest points on the respective counterweights so that said brush assemblies may freely swing about the respective pivot axes without interference between the respective counterweights.   
     
     
       6. Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a roll-over washer and includes: a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending tracks; and   wheels on said frame rollably engaging said tracks so as to allow said frame, together with said first and second brush assemblies and said pair of side brushes, to move longitudinally back and forth along said tracks to wash a stationary vehicle positioned within said frame.   
     
     
       7. Vehicle washing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said first and second brushes each include a horizontal axle shaft extending between the lower ends of the respective pair of arms; and   said apparatus further includes first and second motor and reduction drive assemblies mounted respectively on said first and second pair of arms adjacent the respective axle shaft and directly drivingly engaging the respective axle shafts to rotate the respective brushes.